Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Campground Firewood topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advisory board weighs options for Daee campground firewood — safety, supply and user fees discussed
Summary
Board members and staff discussed shortages of campfire wood at the Daee municipal campground, trade‑offs between providing wood and wildfire risk, possible supply sources and options for sale or donation, and next steps including gathering usage data and reviewing municipal tree‑removal sources.
Members of the Daee Community Advisory Board on June 11 debated ways to provide or manage campfire wood at the Daee municipal campground after members described campers — including many cross‑border visitors — struggling to find safe, seasoned wood.
“I just think communication is key,” one participant told the board; board member Michael Yee said campers often scavenge and sometimes cut live wood because no local supply is available, adding that “it just doesn’t seem like you’re camping unless you have a campfire.” The group discussed options including selling bundled wood at the campground, assigning the campground host to manage the supply, allowing a third‑party vendor to sell wood, or using municipal tree removals or park service driftwood as a source.
Several participants flagged safety and resource constraints. Fire officials noted a concurrent fuel‑management opportunity: removing standing dead and fallen material under a Firewise‑style effort would both provide usable fuel and reduce wildfire risk. Chief Hague cautioned, however, that removing material from some locations — particularly national park land and certain riparian zones — could be restricted because downed wood provides habitat and stabilizes banks.
Board members proposed practical follow‑ups rather than immediate commitments. Suggestions included: asking the campground host for recent occupancy and wood‑use data; exploring whether municipal tree removals or brush piles could be routed to the campground; asking the park service whether driftwood or fallen material could be harvested; and adding the campground/firewood topic to the planned field trip so members could assess likely supply locations.
No formal action or funding decision was taken. The board agreed to seek data from the campground host and municipal staff and to continue the conversation on the field trip and at the July meeting.
